Kirkpatrick wants to be a cornerback with a capital 'C'

Dre Kirkpatrick has had his sights set on winning the starting cornerback job since the end of last season when he replaced an injured and ill Terence Newman for three games.

And while he’s still focused on that goal as the competition heats up in training camp, Kirkpatrick made it clear Monday afternoon that “starter” is not the only title he’s after.

“I don’t want to be a starter, I want to be a leader. I want to wear captain on my jersey,” Kirkpatrick said. “I feel like I bring a lot to this team. When I want something so bad, I’m going to do everything in my heart to try to fulfill it and do it right. I feel like I can be a captain on this team. I ain’t shying from it. That’s just point blank, period.”

Kirkpatrick is as vocal as any player in the locker room, save for fellow cornerback Adam Jones. But he said he knows there’s more to being a leader than just talking a good game.

“I feel like I’m doing a great job of going out there motivating guys by my play, not by what I’m saying, but by going out there every day and giving 110 percent on every play,” he added. ““When you think about the Ravens, everybody in their book is going to think about Ray Lewis. When you think of the Patriots, you think about Tom Brady. When you think about the Bengals, I want you to think of Dre Kirkpatrick.”

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